A Member of Parliament Protests Against Preventing Mohammad Khatami from Attending a Theater

Elias Hazrati, a member of the Iranian Parliament, protested on Wednesday, August 10, against the prevention of Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, from attending a theater performance. He stated, "In dealing with Mr. Khatami, a kind of house arrest is being implemented." According to ILNA, Hazrati, speaking to reporters in Parliament, referred to the obstruction of Khatami's attendance at the play "Doctor Mossadegh's Night Reports" at the Vahdat Hall, and emphasized: "As a member of Parliament, I officially request the head of the judiciary and the attorney general to explain the reasons for this issue and to clarify what offenses led to this treatment of Mr. Khatami." Previously, news sites reported that Khatami, who had gone to watch the play, was prevented from entering the theater by judicial agents. This Iranian MP pointed out that "a kind of house arrest is being implemented in dealing with Mr. Khatami," and requested that the head of the judiciary and the attorney general inform Parliament members of the legal justifications that led to such treatment, as we truly have no information about these matters and do not know what offenses a noble, dignified, and pure person, who has not had any dark spot regarding himself or his family, has committed." Hazrati stated: "Those who prevent the publication of photos and news related to Mr. Khatami and have recently obstructed his attendance at a theater must be held accountable for what law they are acting upon." Since the protests against the results of the presidential election in 2009, Khatami has faced restrictions. Iranian judicial officials announced in 2014 that media outlets were not allowed to publish images or articles about Khatami, and that "violating media" would be dealt with. Regarding Khatami's media ban, the judiciary spokesperson initially stated that this was done based on a resolution from the Supreme National Security Council, but after this claim was denied by officials from Hassan Rouhani's government, it was announced that the former president was banned from media by the attorney general's order. According to reports, while Khatami intended to attend the wedding ceremony of Narges Mousavi, daughter of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard, on March 5, security agents prevented him from attending based on the attorney general's order. Although the legal documentation for this order has not been announced by the Tehran prosecutor, the judiciary spokesperson acknowledged that it was made "on a case-by-case basis" and that "decisions will be made regarding future cases as well."